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At least 5 injured after tornado touches down in central Alabama

A tornado has apparently touched down as people try to recover from storm-related damage

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Updated: 2:31 PM PDT Jun 22, 2017

At least 5 injured after tornado touches down in central Alabama

A tornado has apparently touched down as people try to recover from storm-related damage

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Updated: 2:31 PM PDT Jun 22, 2017

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WEBVTT UNTY.THAT IS FOR THE NEXT 20 MINUTES.THIS STORM IS ON TOP OF YOU ATTHE MOMENT.WE CONTINUE TO SCAN THE SKIES.THAT SURE LOOKS LIKE A TORNADOON THE GROUND IN WEST JEFFERSON.JUST TO THE WEST OF DOWNTOWN.IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO SEE.YOU CAN'T BEHIND THE TREE LINE.IT LOOKS LIKE THE LOWERING OFTHE CLOUDS THERE WITH THATSTORM.COULD VERY WELL BE A TORNADO ONTHE GROUND.IT COULD BE THAT THE CLOUDSSLOWER AND IT TOUCHES DOWN.PLEASE WITH ALL OF THE EVIDENCETHAT WE HAVE, DAMAGE REPORTS ANDSKYCAM SHOT THAT WE ARE LOOKINGAT RIGHT NOW.OF COURSE WITH THE RADAR DATA,THERE ARE GOOD INDICATION THATWE EITHER DO HAVE A TORNADO ONTHE GROUND OR DID HAVE A TORNADOON THE GROUND.

At least 5 injured after tornado touches down in central Alabama

A tornado has apparently touched down as people try to recover from storm-related damage

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Updated: 2:31 PM PDT Jun 22, 2017

A possible tornado touched down in west Jefferson County today. There are reports of extensive damage in the Ensley area.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue has responded to the Fairfield area, where several buildings were damaged. The Express Oil Change collapsed during the storm.

Officials at the scene initially said that three people were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

Three of the victims were in the liquor store and a fourth was at a nearby housing project, Fairfield Police Chief Nick Dyer said.

An Express Oil Change spokesperson said five employees escaped unharmed. Some of the workers sought shelter in a lube pit.

Police said there was some looting at the liquor store, but authorities have since secured the scene.

There also reports of damaged buildings in an area near Ensley Avenue and Interstate 59, fire officials said on social media. Fallen power lines and trees have forced police to close a portion of Ensley Ave. V near 13th Street.

Alabama Power reported at 3 p.m. CDT that there were 11,000 outages in the Birmingham metro, including 9,000 in the area of Fairfield, Midfield and Pratt City.